October 2018

It hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for the Waters of the United States rule since its adoption in 2015. WOTUS, which sought to define waters that fall under the Clean Water Act, has been challenged, blocked, and rewritten. Take a deep breath because a resolution could be in sight.

A home is more than just a place to sleep and store stuff—it’s an investment. Does it yield a bigger return than investing in the stock market? For people deciding whether to put their money toward a down payment or buy stock, that’s an important question. The answer, though, is complex.

Houston has adopted new building regulations intended to protect homes in the city’s most flood-prone areas. The regulations will increase new-home construction costs, but they could also have human and economic benefits. Whether those benefits will outweigh the cost increases is the big unknown.

Good times and bum times—apartment markets have both. They can also reside somewhere in between, riding a period of slow but steady growth. That’s where apartment markets in Texas’ major metros are currently headed. Find out why.

Victoria may have been knocked around by Hurricane Harvey, but with a housing market that looks to be gaining ground and more industrial growth on the way, the South Texas regional hub still has plenty of fight left.

There’s no one home price index to rule them all. Still, using repeat sales analysis and splitting homes by price tier can certainly give one an edge over another. With that in mind, roll out the red carpet because the Real State Center’s new Texas Home Price Index has arrived.

When it comes to the state’s homestead law, the tax exemption gets all the attention because it means more money in the bank for homeowners. Equally important are two lesser-known provisions that protect homeowners from creditors and protect occupancy rights. Here’s what you need to know.